Continuous cooker



Oct. 25, 1927, 1,646,577

F. D. CHAPMAN CONTINUOUS 000mm Filed March 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet} I N VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

F. D. CHAPMAN Oct 25,1921. 1,646,577

CONTINUOUS COOKER FiledMarch .15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sht 2 A TTORNEY-i Pated Oct. 25. 1927.

-' Application filed Karen 15, 1 r

This invention relates to improvements in continuous cookers.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a continuous cooker havmg air an charge valves for charging cans into the cooker and discharging cans therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous cooker in which jets of air, water or steam are used to'force the cans into the cooker and to discharge the cans therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous cooker in which the air and steam pipes are positioned within the axial portions of the caniinlet and discharging valves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous cooker which is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted tor the purpose de-.

scribed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved continuous cooker and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equiv.- alents thereof. I f

In the -accompanyingdrawings in which the sameyreference characters indicate the same parts in allof the views:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the improved continuous cooker; l Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, parts broken away and other parts being shown in section to illustrate interior construction;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cooker;

Fi 4-. is a'to view partly in sectlon, of the discharge en rtion of the cooker; and

Fig. 5. is a simi ar view of the chargingend portion thereof.

Referring to the drawing,'the numeral 8 indicates a horizontally extending cylindrical cooker receptacle or drum, which is mounted on supports 9 and is provided with an inlet opening 10 at its upper portion adjacent one end, and an outlet opening 11 at the'lower end portion of the drum, adjacent its other end. Said 0 enings areabove the water level maintains in said drum. The tank is provided with-a rotary carrier 12 formedof spokeds iders 13 (only one being shown) moun on'a shaft 14, and longitudinally extending angle bars 15 which are connected to. the s aced spiders and each bar has one of its ang ed portions extending steam operated inlet and dis- Said bars extend in parallel relation to the shaft of the carrier and are of less distance apart than the diameter of the cans. or food containers 16, so that said cans cannot pass therebetween. The bars meet with a sp rally trending guide track member 17 which is positioned within the drum and surrounds the carrier and is connected to the inner eriphery of the drain. They said guiding memberis formed of metal of T-sha in cross section with the stem portion 1? of the T extending radially inwardly to form a continuous end guide for the cans, while the outer cross section portions 17" form'guides for the side edge portions of the cans. The convolutions of the spiral member are spaced apart a suficient dlstance to to roll on the cross portions an between the stems while being moved by the carrier and advanced by the spiral member. The charging opening 10 is provided with a rotary va ve 18 enclosed in a cylindrical valve casing 19 mounted on the drum. The valve is also of c lindrical form in cross section and closel ts the casing and is formed with radia opening can pockets 20. for receiving cans to be processed. Theupper portion of the valve casing is formed with an inlet 0 eniiig 21 for receiving the cans. Y An inc ined trough 22' extends from a int of supply upwardly to the valve casing and over the drum to form a support for the cans 16 which are fed to the valveby an endless chain 23. Said chain extends in a vertical plane around the drum and is formed with nsverse bars 24 which directly' enga with a ore 25 for receiv a steam pipe 26 having a jet opening 27 in alinement with a w. mt" duct 28 ending to and in communication with the bottom portions of the can pockets 20 to blow the cans out of said pockthe cans. The valve 18 is formed ermit a can ets in successive order when the pockets turn into re ister with the opening 10 of the drum, as c earli shown in Fig. 2. The pocket valve an the steam pi e 26 form" avalve 26', and as each valve poc et turns into registerwith the drum opening 10, its duct 2.8 will move into register with the jet opening 27 and permit the escape of steam therethrough to force the cans out of the pockets and into the rotary carrier 12.

The cans in traveling around the inner e of the drum will be moved endwise by s'd the spiral member" 17 from the inlet open radially, and the other circumferentially. 10 tothe outlet opening 11 of the drum.

A cylindrical valve casing 31' encloses the valve and the drum discharge opening 11 and is formed with a downwardly extending discharge opening 32 through which the cans are discharged. The discharge valve 29 is formed with a bore 32'- for receiving a steam pipe 33 having a jet opening 34 in ls alinement and communication, successlvely,

with radial ducts 35 formed in the valve member and extending from the bore 32 to the bottom portions of-the can pockets 30, so that as said jet opening and ducts come into register, a jet of air from the pipe 33 will force the cans in successive order out of the pockets.

An air or steam jet is also used for forcing the cans from the carrier into the discharge valve 29 and to accomplish this re- J suit, a tube 34: extends into the end portion I the endless chain and'will drop by gravity 1 d inlet valve adjacent the inlet opening of the of the drum and terminates within the carrier and has a jet opening in radial alinement with the discharge opening 11 of the drum. The discharge of air or steam through saidtube coincident withthe can pockets registering with the discharge opening of the drum, is controlled by a valve 36 i and actuated in timed relation to the pockets by a cam member 38. The cam 38 is mounted on and driven by the shaft 39 which rotates the discharge valve 29. A shaft 40 rotates the inlet can valve 19 and both shafts have a cared connection 42 with a driving shaft 41 journaled on the drum. Said driving shaft 41 also has a geared driving connection 43 with the carrier 12 within the drum, and the geared connection 42, and is provided with pulleys 44: for belted connection with a source of power. A shaft 45 geared to-and extendingv from the geared connection 42 t0 the opposite end of the drum, is provided with a chain wheel 46 for drivingthe feed chain 23.

Steam is supplied to the drum through pipe 47, and water by pipe 48. A gauge 49 m icates thelevel of water within the drum.

In use the drum is part1 .filled with hot water and steam is supplie to the drum to ma ntain the temperature desired. ,The cans of; food are now fed into the inlet valve by into the pockets of the valve, and the sai valve in rotating will carry them into the drum. When each can insuccessive order isv in register with the drum inlet opening, the can willdrop by gravity into the carrier, and

. to make amore positive feed jets of steam,

air or water are directed 'ainst the cans to force them out of the poc ets in successive .steam, water or air in addition to gravity will cause the cans to drop from the carrier into the pockets of the discharge valve and said valve in rotating will carry the cans to the discharge opening of the discharge valve.

Upon arriving at this point, t'ne cans will drop out of the pockets by gravity and will also be forced out of the pockets by the jets of compressed air or other fluid under pres- I sure.

I From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the cans are forced into the drum and carrier by steam or other fluid pressure and are discharged from the carrier and the drum and the discharge valve by steam, Water or air'under pressure. In feeding the cans into or discharging the cans from the drum, the valves prevent the loss of any material amount of the heating medium within the drum. The material within the cans is cooked while the cans are passing through the drum, and the'degree of cooking can be controlled by the speed of travel of the cans through the drum and the amount of hot water within the drum so that the cooking operation is a continuous one and that the cans may be fed to and discharged from the drum continuously.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A cooker,-- comprising a drum for receiving a heating medium and having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a carrier within the drum, an inlet valve adjacent the inlet opening, a fluid pressure Y means for moving the cans from the .valve to thecarrier, an outlet valve adjacent the disch argefopening of the drum, and a fluid pressure: means for moving cans fromthe lis' carrier to the discharge valve, and from the discharge valve outwardly. j

drum for re-.

2. A cooker, comprising a ceiving a heating medium and'having an" inlet opening and a discharge opening, a can rier' within the drum for moving cans from the inlet opening to the. outlet opening, an

drum and having pockets for receiving cans, a fluid pressure means for moving the same from the pockets to the carrier, an outlet valve adjacent the discharge opening of the I I drum .and having pockets forreceivmg cans,

and-from the carrier tothe outlet valve peck-i ate and also from the said pockets outwardly therefrom.

3 A vcooker, comprisinga drum for re-. ceiving a heating medium and having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a

rotary carrier within the drum for moving cans from the inlet to the discharge-opening, an inlet valve adjacent the inlet opening of the drum andghaving. pockets for receiving cans and ducts in communication with said pockets, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said ducts toforce the cans from the pockets to the carrier, an

outlet valve adjacent the discharge opening offthe drum and having pockets for receiving cans and ducts in communication with said pockets, and means 'forsupplying a fluid under pressure to said ducts to force the news out of said pockets.

4. A cooker, comprising a horizontal drum I for receiving a heating medium andhaving an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a rotary carrier within the drum for moving cans from the inlet to the discharge opening,

an inlet valve adjacent the inlet opening of the drum and having pockets for receiving cans and ducts in communication with said pockets, means for supplying a fluid presfluid under pressure tothe ducts of the discharge valve to force the cans out of th pockets of said valve.

5. A cooker, comprising a horizontal drum I for receiving a heating medium and having an inletopening and a discharge opening, a rotary carrier within the drum for movmgcans from the inlet to the discharge opening, a-rotary inlet valve adjacent the'mlet opening of the drum and having pockets for receiving cans and a bore and ducts in communication with said pockets, a fluid pressure pipe extending into the bore and having an opening positioned to successively register with the ducts. of the valve, an outlet valve adjacent the discharge opening of the drum and having pockets 'for receiving cans and'abore and ducts-in communication ygith said pockets, .a fluid pressure pipe extending intothe bore and having an o ening positioned to successively register with the ducts of the discharge valve, means for feeding cans to the inlet valve, and means for rd- 7 tatin' the carrier and the valves. 6.

ooker, comprising a horizontal drum for receivinga heating medium and having an inlet opening-and a discharge opening, a

rotary carrier within the drum for movingcharge opening, a rotary inlet valve adjaof the carrier and havin cans from the inlet to the discharge opening, a rotary inlet valve adjacent the inlet openmg of the drum and having pockets for. receiving-cans and a bore and ducts in communication with said pockets, a fluid pressure pipe extending into the boreand having an opening positioned to successivel register I with the ducts of the valve, a flui pressure pipe extending to a position within the discharge end portion of the carrier and havin an openin for directing the pressure fluid against t e cans at the point of discharge of said cans and in' successive order, a va ve controlling the flow of fluid] from said last mentioned pipe, an outlet valve adjacent the discharge opening of the drum and having pockets for receiving cans and a bore and ductsin communication with said pockets, a fluid pressure pipe extending into the -boi'e and having an opening positioned to successivel register with the ducts of the a discharge va ve, means for feed ing cans to the inlet valve, and means for rotating the carrier and the valves. o

7. A cooker, comprising a horizonta drum for receiving a heating medium and having an inlet opening and. a discharge opening, a rotary carrier within the drum for moving cans from the inlet to the discent the inlet opening of the drum and having pockets for receiving cans and a bore and ducts in communication with sald pock ets, a fluid pressurepipe extending into the bore and having an openingpositioned to 9 successively register with the ducts of the valve, a fluid pressure pipe extending to'a position within the. discharge end ortion an opening for directing the pressure fluid against the cans at the point of dischar'geof said cans and in successive order, a valve controlling the flow of fluid from said last mentioned pipe, an outlet valve adjacent the discharge opening of the drum andhaving pockets for receiving cans and a bore and ducts in communication. with said'pockets, a fluid pres-- sure pipe extending into thebore and hav ing' an openin positioned tosuccessivelyre 'ster" with t e ducts of the discharge va ve, means for cans to'the inlet valve, and means for rotating the carrier and the valves.- l

8. A cooker, comprising a horizontal drum for receiving a heating medium"and having an inlet in its upper portion near one end and a-discharge opening in its lower portion near its opposite end, a rotary car'- rier within the drum and co-acting therewith to move cansfed thereto from theinets, said valvealso having a bore and acts 1 i extending from the bore to the pockets, a fluid pressure pipe extending into the bore and having an opening positioned. to sue.-

' cessively register with-the-ducts of the valve,

a fluid pressure pipe extending to a position adjacent the discharge end of the carrier and having an opening for directing the pressure fluid against the cans at the point of discharge of said can; and in successive order, a valve automatically control.-

ling the flow of fluid from said last mentioned pipe, a rotatable outlet valve positioned adjacent the outlet opening and having radial pockets for receiving cans and ducts in communication with said pockets, said outlet valve also having a bore and ducts extending from the bore to the puckets, a fluid pressure pipe extending into the outlet valve bore and having an opening positioned to successively register with the ductsof the discharge valve, means for feeding cans to the inlet valve in successive order, and means for rotating the carrier, and the valves.

9. A cooker, comprising ,a drum for receiving a heating medium and having an in-.

let opening and an inlet valve adjacent said opening, said drum also having an outlet opening, a carrier for moving cans from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. an outlet valve adjacentthe outlet opening, and a fluid pressure means for moving cans from the inlet valve-,to the carrier, from the carrier to the outlet valve and also out of the outlet valve.

10. A cooker, comprising adrum for re-' ceiving a heating medium and having inlet opening and an inlet valve adjacent said opening, said drum also having an outlet opening, a carrier for moving cans from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, an outlet valve adjacent the outlet opening, means for adjustably agitating the cans carried by the carrier, and a fluid pressure means for moving cans from the, inlet valve to the carrier.

12-. A cooker, comprising a drum for receiving a heating medium and having an inlet opening and an inlet valve adjacent said opening, said drum also having an outlet opening, a carrier having peripheral pockets for receiving and moving cans from the inlet opening through the heating mev dium and to the outlet opening, an outlet valve adjacent the outlet opening and having can pockets, and a fluid pressure means for forcibly moving cans from the pockets of the inlet valve 'to the carrier pockets.-

13. A cooker, comprising adrum for receiving a heating medium and having an inlet opening and an inlet valve adjacent said opening, said drum also having an outlet opening, a carrier having peripheral pockets for receiving and moving cans from the inlet opening through the heating medium and to the outlet opening, an outlet valve adjacent the outlet openingand having peripheral pockets, and a fluid pressure means for forcibly moving'cans from the pockets of the outlet valve outwardly.

14. A cooker, comprising a drum for rean inlet opening and an inlet valve adjacent let opening, a carrier having peripheral pockets for receiving and moving cans, from the inlet opening through the heating medium and to the outlet opening, an, outlet valve adjacent the outlet opening "and having peripheral pockets, and a fluid pressure means for forcibly moving cans, from the pockets of the carrier to the pockets of the outlet valve. r

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FRANK D. CHAPMAN.

' said opening, said drum also having an out 

